Today, new glass-based products and applications are used most anywhere our imagination takes us. Glass is a critical component of numerous industries, including architecture, construction, automotive, transportation, informatics, data storage, and electronics. In addition, glass is widely used in imaging technologies and optics, energy generation, distribution and storage, passive and active coatings, smart/hygienic glass packaging, interactive glass household appliances, medicine, biology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and anti-radiation products. Globally, the race is on to add value to the comforts and aesthetics of life through innovation. Worldwide competition is driving remarkable R&D efforts in the rapidly-evolving science and technology of glass.
Şişecam’s first priority is to ensure a sustainable future. This approach is embedded in each link of its value chain, from the first blend to the end user, and extends across a wide range of activities, from flat glass, glassware, and glass packaging to chemicals needed by the industry and mining operations.With this perspective, Şişecam has dedicated its Research and Technological Development (RTD) efforts and operations to developing highly innovative, environment-friendly, competitive products and production technologies free from harmful compounds that threaten our future.
With this perspective, Şişecam has dedicated its Research and Technological Development (RTD) efforts and operations to developing highly innovative, environment-friendly, competitive products and production technologies free from harmful compounds that threaten our future.
Şişecam embraces an open innovation and pre-competition cooperation approach across the organization, through joint efforts and projects with universities and research centers, as well as public and private research institutions in Turkey and overseas. Şişecam benefits from domestic and international support grants and conducts consortium projects. It also participates in the TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) 2244 Industrial PhD program.
Şişecam conducts its corporate RTD efforts jointly with regional laboratories and production groups located near Şişecam Science, Technology and Design Center. The Center occupies a 9,400 square meter space and includes 29 specialized laboratories, featuring international LEED Gold Certification and a state-of-the-art infrastructure. These advanced facilities allow performance of a comprehensive range of activities, from fundamental research to pilot production on a lab scale. Upon consolidation of glass packaging and glassware design activities under one roof in 2017, the facility transformed into Şişecam Science, Technology and Design Center. The Center employs 167 highly skilled researchers at its 29 specialized laboratories and office facilities. Some 35% of the research staff have graduate degrees. The facility’s equipment stock is continuously improved and modernized. Şişecam Science, Technology and Design Center is classified as an “R&D Center” under Law No. 5746. It is the largest and most advanced glass science and technology laboratory in Turkey, and ranks among the leading research facilities of its kind in Europe.
The Center’s major RTD studies are related to integrated furnace models to ensure efficiency of energy, one of the largest inputs in production; improvement of heat transfer efficiency; new refractory materials and new glass melting technologies; new glass production technologies; disruptive new raw materials, new products and new applications; advanced operation control systems; measurement techniques based on advanced technologies; new high temperature materials; modeling and simulation works in these areas.
